Belarusian KGB accuse Ukrainian journalist of espionage saying he works for special services

The State Security Committee of Belarus has accused Ukrainian journalist Pavlo Sharoyko of espionage. This was reported on the website of the committee.

"Criminal case was brought against P. Sharoyko under article 358 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus ("espionage") and a decision was made to impose a preventive measure in the form of detention," the statement reads.

KGB of Belarus said that Sharoyko was busted on October 25, 2017 “while carrying out agent operation". At the same time, the department claims that he is a the officer of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

"Taking into account his work experience as the head of the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, he was taken to the post of the correspondent of National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine as a cover," the statement says.

In addition, the KGB says that Sharoyko allegedly "created an intelligence network consisting of the citizens of the Republic of Belarus who, for money, fulfilled his tasks of collecting intelligence data in the military-political sphere."